Here are some I found recently:

Thank you so much for your advice!

So far I’m sticking with one POV (third person limited).
No worries! That makes perfect sense!! I find it challenging to combine already written characters but I guess I’ll just have to brainstorm some more and then do some crunching of characters:)

God bless!

Thank you so much for those 5 helpful tips!! I will definitely keep those in account going forward.
God bless!

I don’t think we have met, but it’s wonderful to meet you!!

Thank you for helping me out! I appreciate your input, it was very helpful! I think most my characters do serve a purpose but it may be a matter of combining them.

God bless!

I have a quick question: Can you have too many character in a novel?

So I decided to do a Carrie count because in the last year there have been a lot of uninvited but intriguing character barging in on my WIP.
I have 34 named characters!! Is that too many. Not all of them are in the same chapters…[Read more]

Hi Joy!

I’m struggling with that too. The one thing that helped me was using the Save The Cat beat sheet. Then evaluating each scene and asking myself is it necessary or not. I also condensed a couple scenes to move it along faster.

I attached an outline I would fill out for each scene to see whether the scene was w…[Read more]

My protag’s name is Emilia.

All that was soooo helpful!! Especially the LOTR example! I like how you asked different questions and how it becomes the readers turn to ask or respond to those questions. I’m definitely going to contemplate that more! I think I’m getting the hang of the whole theme thing now!
I appreciate your help!!!!!!

Wow! Thank you that was all so helpful!!

Okay, so I guess the ‘main theme’ would be struggling to build a new identity for herself. She has to choose who she wants to define her, whether that be living the life in high society or embracing the anew life in Christ with fellow Catholics. So family, belonging, hap…[Read more]

So with what you said, then I think finding family is one of her goals that branches out from the main theme. One of the few messages would be “Family doesn’t necessa…[Read more]

I’ve gone through this before too. It’s a hard decision. I did find this article, maybe it will help.

How to Successfully Kill a Character: The Checklist

God bless,

Mary

Thank you for your advice! That was very useful. So theme is more about asking a question that the reading will explore by reading the book, not stating a theme. I guess I could ask, “How do we find our place in society? Or, “Who will we let define us?”

I once read that your thematic question can slightly change through the book.…[Read more]

Here are my two cents. When I write emotional scenes I try to think about where the character’s hands are and what they’re doing, as well as other facial cues. Like others have mentioned, you don’t necessarily  need to show tears to show someone is sad. For example, the character scratches the bridge of their nose, avert’s thei…[Read more]

Yeah, so now that I think of it I have that relationship in most my writing.😅

For example, I have a Butler who is the mentor in the relationship to an upper classes’ unofficially adopted daughter who is 15 years old. She not legally adopted, but that family wanted to start her out on the right foot into society…so she can leave w…[Read more]

Hi everyone! Is been a while since I’ve been on the forum but I thought I’d drop in! So many fun topics lately! This topic definitely caught my eye.

I would say my favorite relationship in books would have to be adoption or guardianship. @joy-caroline
I also like the type of character who takes someone under their wing whether they…[Read more]

Thank you, Jodi!!😁

THANK YOU!

-Mary G

P.S. My pen name is M.G.…[Read more]

yeah, when you write from personal experience it definitely has a different impact on the reader. It’s more relatable and accurate.
(this convo is drifting from the original topic I think) lolol

Yeah, I’m using the yellow manor house and the river, but without the bridge, in my current 2nd draft of my WIP.

Maybe the ground keepers are made to stay there against their will. Blackmail maybe. And if they leave something horrible will happen. I smell a mystery. Hehe

Yep! Haha! It was really cool! It was rather large with a courtyard in the back that we weren’t allowed to go in. It a yellow manor with black shutters and roof, a large front door, and three huge steps out front with white pillars. I spent most of my time outdoors with my siblings when we stayed there. I remember a huge curved…[Read more]

Yeah, I can relate to Sunday’s being the only social days!

I’m just thankful I had a huge property to explore and spend time running around in and lots of pets/animals to play with!

Same! I have a protagonist who is 15 going on sixteen. It’s kinda like I write about the MC as if I was them and was put in a different and exciting…[Read more]

Honestly, I have no idea where my ideas come from!! 🤣 I think I had such an uneventful life growing up that I created people and places that were so much more exciting!
I know I do get some idea from books, movies, and music. I’ve also had dreams give me great ideas and one time gave me the perfect inciting incident!

I think a lot…[Read more]

I just watched your friend’s song!! I loved it!😍 she has a beautiful voice! The lyrics really rang true for today’s society! 👍✨💎

Sorry for my late response!

I love any kind of warbler!! But I also love Kestrels! Yeah, owls are neat but so rare!

My current work in progress is called The Inventor’s Daughter. It’s a realistic Christion fiction novel set in the 1870s England. It’s a mix of a conversion, coming of age, mystery, and faith!

That’s great, I’ve been…[Read more]

Aw thanks!☺️ You can find it on my own website: wwwleogoestofrance.com

Or Amazon paperback and Kindle

I just have an illustrated children’s book, Leo Goes to France. wwwleogoestofrance.com

It’s a story inspired by my cat Leo who loves everything to do with sugar and carbs…Everything but his cat food. Leo runs away to France in search of pastries, pies, and donuts.

I tried to downloading google forms but they asked me to access personal info and control what I put on google forms!😬 I don’t feel comfortable allowing that!

I’ll see if I can find another way!

I understand completely!

I’m actually not sure how to do that!

Is there another way?

Oh I totally understand!! That’s ok!:) I don’t think these another way! A least not that I know of!🤷‍♀️

By email would be great!! Thanks!

I was wondering if anyone would be interested in reading the first chapter of The Inventor’s Daughter! This is my first time asking for a critique so it’s pretty exciting! Let me know and I can share it by email. I would like it to be read before Friday afternoon if not that’s ok!

God bless!

@joy-caroline,@gracie-j, @devastate-lasting, <…[Read more]

Ok😄 So we’re in the same boat!

That’s sounds great! I will definitely try that out! Thank you so much!

Good luck with your blogging venture too!!!

That sounds super cool!

No problem!!!😊 I just submitted an question for Temira!;)

*Gasps* No Way!! A fellow Birdwatcher!!!!! At times I think we are more rare than the Sandhill Cranes themselves. Lol 😄

It’s great to have you here! My name is Mary! I also love Tolkien and his books. I also enjoy Christian, historical and dystopian fiction. C.S. Lewis is also a fav of my e too. My mission as a writer is to provide…[Read more]

@lydia-s
Thank you, Lydia!
That’s a great idea! I’m totally going to do that!😃